US President Joe Biden welcomed the leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States to Wilmington, Delaware, for the annual summit of the Quad alliance. Biden pledged to deepen the partnership between the four countries and announced the launch of a new cooperation framework between their coastguards. The Quad, formed in 2007 but dissolved amid protests from China, was revived in 2017 to curb China’s influence in the Asia Pacific.
The leaders of the Quad emphasized their commitment to promoting a rules-based international order, respecting sovereignty, and peaceful conflict resolution. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated their shared priority of a free, open, inclusive, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressed the importance of peace and stability in the region and the management of strategic competition and disputes.
While the Biden administration has faced criticism over its support for Israel and its focus on conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, senior US leaders have highlighted the rivalry with China as a top foreign policy priority. Tensions between the US and China have escalated over trade issues, Taiwan, South China Sea disputes, and allegations of spying and cyberattacks. The US has also warned China against supporting Russia in its war in Ukraine.
During the summit, the leaders did not mention China in their remarks but presented themselves as defenders of democracy and international norms. The Quad alliance plays a crucial role in promoting shared responsibilities and goals in the face of growing competition with China. The deepening rivalry between the US and China is seen as the most significant challenge in US history, according to US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. China has urged the US to abandon its Cold War mentality and stop spreading the narrative of the “China threat.”
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